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“I can’t see them like the others can.”

“According to Ari, you’ve got a whole lot of magic swimming through you right now. Might be worth a shot.”

“She’ll sense the magic.”

“I wish I’d brought a bow and arrow.”

“Or a gun,” I whispered.

“Or a helicopter with laser beams.”

We grinned at each other.

Mom didn’t do much of anything. She stood there, looking out amongst the woods and slowly lowered herself onto one of the rocking chairs on the porch.

No one else came out. She performed no spells or any other magic.

If a human stumbled upon this place, they’d see a woman enjoying some peace and quiet.

But I knew who she was and what she was capable of.

“We can take her out now,” Soren whispered. “If we move quietly enough.”

I nodded and was just about to rise when a pool of dark light shimmered at the edge of the stairs, a few feet away from my mother. Soren reached out for my arm and gripped me tight.

“Stay,” he hissed. “What the fuck is that?”

The darkness twirled like a funnel cloud, eventually coalescing into a male shape.

A moment later, a tall, lean male with pale skin and icy silver hair stood there. He wore all black, the only color a silver thread running through the seams of his clothing.

Black, shiny shoes. Black, well-fitted trousers, and a black button-down shirt. He’d left the first few buttons open, exposing a small amount of marble-pale skin.

I’d never seen him before. My gaze swept over his pale, handsome face. Full lips, strong jaw, high cheekbones, eyes that reminded me of Ari’s, but so much colder. His hair was thick and tousled and blew in the slight breeze drifting around the cabin.

Soren lifted his index finger to his lips in the universal gesture for quiet. We strained to listen as the male opened his mouth to speak.

“You seem to be settling in quite nicely,” the male said.

His voice was crisp, cultured, and utterly devoid of emotion. Something about it set my nerves on edge.

“No thanks to you,” my mother said. Her normally musical voice was hoarse and raspy.

“Mmm. Our deal does not require me to provide you funds. I’d already gone out of my way to provide the cabin, which, if memory serves, is now ash on the mountainside.”

The male turned in a slow circle. “Clever. Only aerial access without great effort. Do you think it will stop your enemies from finding you?”

Mom let out a caw of laughter. “I’ve never wanted my enemies to find me more.”

“We shall see if such remains the case. You are aware your daughter survived.”

Mom went preternaturally still. “The cockroach gene appears to run in our family then.”

“Yes, well, she had a curious helper. One who has not been back to the in-between space since then.”

I froze. He was talking about Tess. How could he have known Tess was the one who helped me?

Who was this creepy fucker?